Auction puts small dent into losses from alleged cancer hoax

Tuesday

Jun 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMJun 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM

The Delaware County sheriff's office raised slightly less than $23,000 in an auction that authorities said was the only way for family and friends of Melanie and Phylip Chen to get back any of the more than $800,000 they gave to the couple in an alleged cancer fraud.

The Delaware County sheriff's office raised slightly less than $23,000 in an auction that authorities said was the only way for family and friends of Melanie and Phylip Chen to get back any of the more than $800,000 they gave to the couple in an alleged cancer fraud.

On Saturday the office sold more than 100 items, including jewelry, furniture, housewares, luggage and electronics, seized from the Chens, said Delaware County Sheriff Walter L. Davis III. The couple agreed to forfeit the property, with proceeds expected to benefit friends and family members who gave the Chens money.

Authorities say Melanie Chen, 30, and her husband, Phylip, 38, convinced family members and friends beginning in 2005 that Phylip had cancer and collected more than $800,000 they said was going toward medical bills. The couple stopped collecting money in 2008, when a relative filed a report with the sheriff's office.

Each pleaded not guilty to one count of theft and one count of receiving stolen property. Mrs. Chen will face trial Aug. 11, while Mr. Chen's Aug. 18 trial is being rescheduled.

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